Opinions/Help on a Wakizashi/Ko-wakizashi

[mbrown62]

I was shown a wakizashi that a antique collector had picked up some time ago. He did not know much about it but he was told it was from the mid-1600's by a swordsmith named Matsumora. I am interested in Japanese swords so I have been doing a little digging on it and could really use some expert assistance.

 

Basic info: Nagasa=38.3cm, Sori=0.62cm, Moto Haba=2.96cm, Saki Haba=2.18cm mounted in a plain wooden resting scabbard.

 

On the shorter side for a wakizashi, maybe a ko-wakisashi. Blade shape is Hira Zukari with a low peaked Ihori-mune. With a 26% taper and 2% curvature.

The nakago shape looks like funagata with a iri-yamagate jiri and visible file marks (sujikai style, I think). It has a mei, but just a 2 character one (no other stamps or symbols on either side). Looking at the Kanji, I am pretty certain it does not translate to "Matsumora". The first character seems likely to be "Mura". The second could be "shiro" or "nichi", or possibly a blocky version of "masa". I highly doubt this could be that "Muramasa" (the mei does not match known copies), maybe a forgery???

 

The blade is a light grey, with a masame hada, there appears to be a hamon, but, the blade has an overall hazy finish and needs a good polish (but I don't think it has been un-professionally done) so bit hard to see. There are some flaws: ware and some surface pits and light rust stains. My thinking is that it is real and could be mid-late 1600's but probably an "every day working sword" such as a merchant or craftsman might carry. That said, I could be totally wrong...!!

 

I can provide additional info and/or higher res. or different pictures (trying to keep under the posting limits) if helpful.

 

I am definitely an amateur nihonto enthusiast, so, any assistance is greatly appreciated.

 

[SteveM]

Yes, gimei of 村正 (Muramasa) as you speculated. 

[Rivkin]

Unfortunately even without seeing any activity I would not be optimistic. Sugata is awkward, yasurime is deep and well spaced, patination highly uneven, the kanji are poorly written. Its quite recent (probably post Edo) and the quality I would expect to be on a low side. Even shirasaya is weird with its squarish shape which is probably a bit easier to make.

[mbrown62]

Thank you both! This confirms where I figured this was going. I knew the blade was middle quality at best, but age was a real challenge.

 

 The gentleman is a friend of a friend and is selling/auctioning off a number of items from his military collection including this wakizashi. I am trying to set reasonable expectations. Is there any potential value in this item?

 

Thanks for any assistance!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Beyond the fact it is a genuine Japanese sword that is out of polish, the value would be minimal - a few hundred dollars perhaps. 

[mbrown62]

Thanks, that is what I thought.